Pope urges Africa to defend family "at all costs"

Published: 19 November 2007

Pope Benedict has urged Kenya’s bishops to defend the institutions of marriage and family life “at all costs”.

The
Holy Father said this "precious treasure” is under attack from
international agencies promoting abortion. Reuters reports that he
pleaded with the bishops to help parents teach their children how to
live a traditional Christian vision of marriage.

“The cause of
the ills besetting some parts of African society, such as promiscuity,
polygamy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, can be
directly related to disordered notions of marriage and family life,”
the Pope said.

"The globalised secular culture is exerting an
increasing influence on local communities as a result of campaigns by
agencies promoting abortion.

"This direct destruction of an innocent human life can never be justified, no matter how difficult the circumstances," he said.

“When
you preach the Gospel of Life, remind your people that the right to
life of every innocent human being, born or unborn, is absolute and
applies equally to all people with no exception whatsoever."

According
to Catholic News Agency, he added that Catholics should welcome back
women seeking forgiveness after choosing to have an abortion.